Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran today said that leaders of Congress are evidently treating ex-Comelec commissioner Virgilio Garcillano with kid gloves. He said that considering that Garcillano is the main, most important witness in the Hello, Garci investigations, it was patently obvious that Congress leaders allied with Malacanang are not in any clear hurry to compel Garcillano to surface.

"This is more like a slow dance where Macapagal-Arroyo allies in the House are swaying gently to Garcillano's rythm. If it weren't for the relentlessness of the Opposition in demanding that Congress take immediate action on Garcillano, there would hardly be any action done to haul Garcillano forward," he said.

"If it were up to Malacanang and its allies in the House, the Hello, Garci issue would be dead and buried, and Garcillano can just fade away into anonymity. "

"It's difficult to not suspect that Congress is deliberately being slow in its measures to compel Garcillano to surface and appear before proper investigations. The Christmas break is fast approaching, and the delays are deliberate to make sure that the investigations into the tapes do not reopen until after the Christman break," he said.

The veteran labor leader challenged Macapagl-Arroyo allies to announce that the investigations into the Garci tape with Garcillano already attending will proceed even during the Christmas break. "Will Arroyo allies allow this? The issue is quite big and has serious implications on the immediate future of the presidency and its political governance. Will Arroyo's allies in the House give this issue the importance it deserves and proceed with the the investigations even during the break?"

Beltran said that Garcillano should not be allowed to live a normal life ever again so long as he refuses to come forward and give his testimony regarding the contents of taped conversations and what they imply. "He will run out of excuses eventually. It is to his best interest that he come forward and testify. He should be arrested and held on charges of obstruction of justice for evading the investigations for the last six months,' he said.#